JOHNSTOWN - The city, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is scheduled later this month to complete field work as part of the second phase of an environmental review of three former tannery sites.

The review will determine levels of contamination.

Work is being done at an old tannery site known as the "snake pit" at 311 W. State St.; the former H & J Leather Corp., 312-314 N. Perry St.; and the former Demi's Leather Corp., 24 Briggs St.

"Field work should be completed by the end of the month," City Engineer Chad Kortz told the Common Council on Monday.

In a liaison report to the council, Kortz said a comprehensive report on the work could be completed by January.

The city is in the middle of a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment.

Engineering firm Malcolm Pirnie Inc. of Clifton Park is doing the work as part of the EPA Region 2's Brownfields Assessment Program.

The "snake pit" got its name because there was once tanning and finishing of snake and other reptile skins there. The city demolished the property, which is vacant.

The former five-story Demi's Leather building was demolished in 2007. The site is now vacant. EPA workers at the site initially found elevated levels of chromium and lead in the soil.

The site at 312-314 N. Perry St. - which not only included H & J, but also the former Gloria's Pizzeria - was the subject of an early EPA investigation in 2007. Workers found and removed waste there that included heavy metals and volatile organic compounds. The city demolished the building last year.

Ongoing work includes the taking of surface soil, subsurface soil and groundwater samples at the old tanneries to determine levels of contamination.

Kortz said the assessment is being paid for with a $250,000 government grant the city received.

City officials want to get moving on developing the old H & J Leather property. The city received a $420,000 Restore NY state grant to improve the property.

The city is doing a housing project with developer Brian Hanaburgh at Collingwood Avenue and North Perry Street, partially at the old H&J Leather Corp. site.

Hanaburgh, managing partner of H&K Realty, wants to build three duplex residences on vacant lots in that area.

Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.